Fuse-plug



H. B-. BEMAMIVN. FUSE PLUG.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 4, |918- 1,374,349. Patented Apr. 12, 1921.

WJTNESSES ""1 r INI/EN TOR.

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REUBEN B. BENJAMIN, OFCHCGG, LLI-IGIS, ASSIGNOR 'EO BENJAMIN ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, 0F CHGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OIE' ILLINOIS.

FUSE-PLUG.

Application filed May Ll, 1918.

To @ZZ wlw/n t may concern:

Be it known that I, REUBEN B. BENJAMIN, a citizen ot the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and' State oi illinois, have invented new andarsetul improvements in Fuse-Plugs, of which the following' is a full, clear, concise, and exa-ct description, reference being had to the companying dra Ying, forming a part oi this specification.

My invention relates to fuse plugs.

Among the objects of my invention are to provide an improved construction or inse plug' furnished with a plurality ot fuses which can be brought successively into the circuit. which construction shall be durable and eilicient in use, cheap to manufacture, simple and compact in construction, and

easy to manipulate. Further objects will appear from the detailed'description to iollow and from the appended claims. in thc drawings, in which one embodiment ot my invention is shown- Figure 1 is a transverse section on the line 1-1 or' Fig. 3;

Fig. 2 is a view looking down on Fig. 3 5 ig'. 3 is an axial section of the plug' on the line BgS of Fig. 1;

Fig. is an axial section on the line r-l of Fig. 2, h I Fig'. 5 i a transverse section or the partls tion members on the line 5-5 ci F 1g. 4,

Fie'. (5 is a transverse section on the line E TTi0 3' ,il n a is a sit e elevation of the fuse magazine' Fig. S is a section similar to G, sliow img; a construction which places two o the fuses in the circuit at the same time; and

Fig', 9 is a fragmentary view oi an indicating portion ot the device. 1

ln order to give a general idea of the plug, it is here st: ed that it is ot the type which can be screw d into an Edison socket; that it is provided with a iuse magazine which carries a plurality of fuses, which fuses may be successively brought int-o the circuit, s0 that when one is blown the magazine carrying the fuses can be shifted so as to bring another 'fuse into the circuit; and that it may readily be provided with means wher by more than one of the `fuses may be brought into the circuit simultaneously.

Specification of Letters Patent.

ratented Apr. 12,1921.

Serial No. 232,437.

This last provision enables the plug to be va ten ampere current, it can very easily be changed so that two fuses will be brought into the circuit, which will make it right for a twenty ampere circuit; and it can also be easily changed so that three of the fuses will be brought into the circuit, in order to make it suitable for a thirty ampere circuit.

It is also here stated that in the embodii'nent of the invention shown the insulation is made up entirely of sheet material, such as ber, which can be readily stamped out, so that a very cheap construction is obtained.

1t is also stated that the plug isso constructed that the screwing of the plug` into the socket will tend to torce into better electrical connection the contacts which bring the fuses into the circuit.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the fuse plug shown comprises an insulating base 10 built up ont pieces of sheet material, such as liber, which may be readily stamped out, a sheet-metal contact member 11 secured to and supported by the insulating base 10, a plurality ot 1fuses 12 secured to and supported by the insulating base 10,7a threaded shell contact` 13 into which the insulating base 10 carrying the center Contact 11 and the fuses l2 can be slipped and with which it' has a snap connection (indicated at le), a combined thumbpiece and housing member 15 for screwing' the threaded shell 1.3 into the socket and ror housing the electrical parts and preventing' the escape oi' gases when theV fuse is blown, and an insulating ring or sleeve 16 between the threaded shell 13 and the thumb-piece 15 Jfor insulating the thumb-piece from the threaded shell Contact 13.

The insulating base 10 comprises a ber sleeve 17, three partition members 18, 19, and 20 located inside the sleeve 17 and iitted together so as to divide the space within the sleeve into sir; chambers, one for each fuse; a liber disk 21 which supports the center contact 11 and which is riveted to the fiberV partition members 18, 19, and 2O and which closes the upper ends of the chambers formed by the partition members 18, 19, and 20; and two ber disks, 22 and 23, respectively, riveted to the lber partition members 18, 19, and 2G i'or closing the lower ends of the chambers formed by the partition members, and for supporting the contacts to which the outer ends of the fuses 12 are connected.

In order that the disks 21, 22 and 23 may be riveted to the partition members 18, 19, and 20, they are provided with holes through which lugs 24 and 25 on the partition members extend, the lugs .being riveted over after the disks are in place. The partition member 2O is notched about oncthird of its length at both top and bottom; the member 18 is notched about two-thirds of the way down from the top; and the member 19 is notched about two-thirds ot the way up from the bottom, so that the three partition members can be fitted together, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, by slipping the partition member 19 down on the partition member 2O from the top, and slipping the partition member 18 up on the partition member 2() trom the bottom.

rihe center contact is hollow sheetmetal rivet, riveted to the insulating` disk 21. r1`he six fuses are formed by crossing three strips of fusible material, these strips being secured in electrical connection with the center Contact 11 by being clamped between a sheet-metal plate 26 and the flange 27 ol the center contact 11.

The chamber formed by the tubular portion or" the rivet 11 provides a space in which the three strips which toi-m the fuses can cross each other without` being crushed when the fuses are clamped in place. For holding the fuses 12 in place and properly positioning them, a disk 28 of insulating material is placed beneath the metal disk 26, the disk 28 being provided with notches 29 to receive the fuses.

The lower ends ot the tuses 12 are secured in soldering Wells formed by sheetmetal cup-shaped members 30 positioned in recesses 31 in the disk 23, and having flange portions 32 clamped between the disks 22 and 23. rlhe ends of the 'fuses are secured in place in the soldering wells by placing solder 33 in the cup-shaped portion ot the soldering wells, around the ends of the fuses.

For completingthe electrical connection between the center contact 11 and the shell contact 13 through the fuses 12, aV contact member 34 is secured to the transverselyextending bottom portion 35 ot the shell contact 13'in position to enter any one of the recesses 31 in the disk 23 to engage the corresponding soldering well 30, thereby completing the circuit through the correspending fuse.

The contact member 34 may be a cupshaped metal member having a neck portion extending through an opening in the bottom 35 ot the threaded shell and having a portion 3G flanged over for securing the contact to the shell.

V1f it is desired that two fuses shall be in the circuit simultaneously, two contact members 34 are provided, as indicated in Fig. 8, which enter two of the recesses 31 and engage two of the soldering wells, so that two ot the fuses are brought into the circuit.

The bottom 35 of the threaded shell contact is pierced in four places, indicated at 37, 38, 39, and 40. 1t it is desired that only one fuse shall be brought into the circuit at a time, the contact member 34 is secured only in the opening 37 if it is desired that two of the fuses shall be brought into the circuit simultaneously, the contact members 34 are secured both in the aperture 37 and the aperture 38; if it is desired that three or the fuses be brought into the circuit simultaneously, the contact members 34 are secured in the apertures 37, 39, and 40.

The apertures 37 and 38 are located diametrically opposite each other, and the apertures 37, 39, and 40 are located 120 degrees apart.

F or insulating the bottom 35 ont the threaded shell from the thumb-piece 15, an insulating disk 41.01 fiber or other suitable material is secured to the thumb-piece member 15.

For preventing the magazine part of the plug from becoming separated from the shell contact part 13 in handling, a quickdetachable connection is provided between these two parts. This fastening is similar to what is known as a glove fastening.7 t comprises a sheet-metal member 42 having a flat portion 43 clamped between the insulating disk 41 and the bottom ofthe thumb-piece member 15, and a spring ballshaped portion 44 for engagement with a sheet-metal socket portion 45 which is secured to the insulating disk 23. The ballshaped portion 44 is provided with a number of slits 46 in its side, which enable the ball-shaped portion to be compressed for insertion into the socket member 45, the ball-shaped portion expanding after it has been placed in the socket, to hold the magazine part of the plug in position with respect to the shell contact 13 and the thumbpiece portion 15.

This snap connection between the fuse magazine and the shell contact prevents them from becoming separated in handling, and at the same time permits ot their ready separation when it is desired to shift the fuse magazine to bring a new fuse into the circuit.

The threaded shell Contact 13 is cut away, as indicated at 47, adjacent the Contact member or contact members 34, in order to prevent the formation of an arc from one fuse to another through the threaded shell contact when a fuse is blown. The threaded shell contact 13, the insulating ring or sleeve 16, and the thumb-piece l are secured to each other by striking up portions of all three of these members at various points in their circumference, as indicated at 4:8. These struck-up portions may be provided adjacent the contact member or contact members 3a, and such struck-up portions may be provided with indicating means i9 (Fig. 9) to enable the user of the plug to easily determine just Where the'contact members 3a are located, when inserting the fuse magazine in the shell 13.

ln using the plug, the fuse magazine is slipped into the shell contact 13 and the two parts are snapped together by means ot the quick-detachable connection lei, the contact member 3l entering one of the recesses 3l and engaging the corresponding soldering well 30. The plug is then screwed into a socket until the center contact l1 is in engagement with the center Contact of the socket, the screwing-in of the shell 13 orc ing the contact 34 firmly into engagement with the soldering well to form a good electrical contact.

It the current is so heavy that the 'fuse is blown, the plug is screwed out of the socket, the fuse magazine is detached from the shell contact and inserted in the shell contact in new position, so as to bring another one of the :tuses l2 into the circuit.

For heavy current it may be desirable that two of the fuses be brought into the circuit. In this case two contacts 34 are provided, diametrically opposite each other, for engagement with two of the soldering wells 30, respectively. It these two fuses are blown, the fuse magazine is shifted so as to bring two more fuses into the circuit.

In case it is desired that three of the fuses shall be brought into the circuit simultaneously, three Contact members 34 are provided at points 120 degrees apart, for engagement with three of the soldering` wells 3G, respectively. It these three fuses are blown, the fuse magazine is shifted to bring the other three fuses into the circuit.

l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United lStates:

l. A fuse plug comprising a threaded shell contact, a combined fuse and center contact support comprising a cylindrical shell of insulating sheet material telescoping inside said threaded shell contact, and a disk of in sulating sheet material extending across the inner end of said insulating shell, a center contact secured to said disk, and a fuse located in said insulating shell and carried by said fuse support and electrically connected with said center contact, said disk being secured to and carried by said insulating shell, and removable therewith as a unit from said threaded shell.

2. A fuse plug comprising a cylindrical threaded shell contact, a support fora center conta-ct and fuse comprising a cylindrical shell of insulating sheetmaterial telescoping inside said threaded shell contact, and a disk of insulating sheet material extending across the outer end ot said insulating shell, a contact member secured to said disk, a center Contact carried by said support, and a fuse located in said insulating shell and'electrically connected with both of said contacts, said disk being secured to and carried by said insulating shell, and removable therewith as a unit from said threaded shell.

3. A fuse plug comprising a cylindrical threaded shell contact, a support for a center contact and fuse comprising a cylindrical shell of insulating sheet material telescoping inside said threaded shell, a disk of insulating sheet material extending across the inner end or" said insulating shell, and a second disk of insulating sheet material extending across the outer end of said insulating shell, a center contact supported by said first insulating disk, a second contact supported by said second disk, and a fuse electrically connected with both of said contacts and located in said insulating shell, said disk being secured to and carried by said insulating shell, and' removable therewith as a unit from said threaded shell. A

el. A fuse plug comprising a cylindrical threaded shell Contact, a support for a fuse and center contact comprising a cylindrical shell or insulating sheet material telescoping inside said threaded shell, a disk oi insulating material across the outer end of said insulating shell, a contact supported by said disk, two partition members located in said insulating shell and extending at an angle to each other to form, with said insulating shell, a chamber extending longitudinally of the plug', a center contact carried by said support, and a fuse located in said chamber and electrically connected with both of said contacts.

5. il -fuse plug comprising a cylindrical threaded shell contact, a support for a fuse and center contact comprising a cylindrical shell of sheet insulating material telescoping inside said threaded shell contact, a disk of insulating material extending across the inner end ot said insulating shell, a sec.

ond disk ot insulating material extending across the outer end of said insulating shell, and two partition members extending at an angle with respect to each other and forming, with said insulating shell, a chamber extending longitudinally of said plug, a center contact supported by said iirst insulating disk, a second contact supported by said second insulating disk, and a fuse located in 'said chamber and electrically connected With both ot said contacts.

G. A multiple fuse plug comprising a cylindrical threaded shell contact, a plurality v of fuses located Within said threaded shell contact, means for insulating said luses from each other comprising a plurality of interlitting partition members oi' insulating sheet materiallying Substantially in intersecting planes through the axis or said plug, an insulating disk at the inner end of said plug having a plurality of openings therein, said partition members having portions extending through said openings, and a center contact supported by said dislr and electrically connected with said ruses.

'7. fr multiple fuse plug comprising a cylindrical threaded shell contact, a plurality or fuses located in said threaded shell contact, means for insulating said fuses from each other comprising a plurality or interlitting partition members or insulating sheet material lying substantially in intersecting` planes through the axis ci" said plug, a dislr or insulating material extending across the outer ends oit said partition members, and a plurality ot contacts supported by said dish and electrically connected with said l'uses, said disk having a plurality of openings therein, said partition members having portions extending through said openings.

8. A Jfuse plug comprising a cylindrical threaded shell contact, a fuse located in said threaded shell contact, a substantially circular disk extending across said threaded shell contact, a contact supported by said disk and electrically connected with said fuse, and an insulating partition member o1 sheet material lying substantially in a plane through the axis of said plug, said disl having an opening therein and said partition member having a portion ef-:tending into said opening'.

9. A fuse plug comprising a cylindrical threaded shell Contact, a fuse located in said threaded shell contact, a dislr ot insulating material extending across the inner end of said threaded shell Contact, a center contact supported by said dislr and electrically connected With said Jfuse, a second insulating disk extending across the outer end el said threaded shell contact, a second contact supported by said second dish and electrically connected With said'iuse, each or said dislrs having an opening therein, and partition memberot insulating sheet material extending etWeen said dislrs and having a portion extending into each oit said openings.

l0. A fuse plug comprising a cylindrical threaded shell contact, a fuse located Within said shell contact, tWo dislrs of insulating material, and a metal soldering-Well member having a flange portion clamped between said insulating` disks to Which the 'end or said fuse is soldered.

contact, an insulating dislr having an opentheretlirough into which said contact member may extend, a soldering Well having a cup-shaped portion located in said opening and having a contact portion for engagement with said contact member, the end or said fuse being soldered in said cupshaped portion.

i3. Yuse plug comprising a cylindrical threadec shell having a transversely-extending portion at the outer end thereof, said transyersely-extending portion having an opening therein, a contact member secured in said opening, a fuse located in said threaded shell, and a second contact member electrically connected With said fuse tor engagement with said lirst contact member.

ri multiple ruse plug comprising a ,uden shell contact having a transverselyding portion at the outer end thereof,

i plurality or openings therein, a plura i, each opening, a plurality or fuses located 'n said threaded shell contact, and 1. j or' contact members, one for each id Juses, for engagement With said first urality or contacts. l5. A multiple fuse plug comprising a threaded shell contact, a tubular center contact, and a plurality oi' fuse members crossing each other Within the tubular portion of said center contact.

16. il fuse plug comprising a threaded shell Contact, a tubular center contact, a plurality of fuse members crossing' each other Within the tubular portion orP said center Contact, and a plate or conducting material 'for engaging said inse members and clamping` them against said center contact.

17. A multiple fuse plug comprising a threaded shell contact, a plurality of fuses located in said threaded shell contact, means for insulating said fuses from each other comprising a plurality of interlitting partition members ot' insulating sheet material lying substantially in intersecting planes through the axis oi said plug, said fuses comprising fuse members crossing each other substantially in the aXis of said plug, and

means for spacing said fuses comprising a disk ot insulating material extending across the ends ot said partition members.

18. A multiple fuse plug comprising a threaded shell contact, a plurality of fuses located in said threaded shell contact, means for insulating said fuses troni each other comprising a plurality of interitting partition members of insulating sheet material lying substantially in intersecting planes through the axis of said plug, said fuses comprising fuse members crossing each other substantially in the axis ot said plug, and means ior spacing said fuses comprising a disk of insulating material extending across the ends of said partition members, said disk being provided with a plurality of notches, one tor each fuse.

19. A multiple fuse plug comprising a threaded shell contact, an insulating fuse carrier having a plurality of chambers therein, a plurality of fuses located in said chambers, said chambers having openings to the outside ot' said fuse carrier, a contact electrically connected with said threaded shell contact tor electricall connection with said fuses, said threaded shell contact being cut away adjacent said contact to prevent arcing when a tuse is blown.

20. A. fuse plug, comprising a cylindrical threaded shell contact, a support for a center contact and fuse, comprising a cylindrical shell of insulating sheet material located in said threaded shell contact, a disk of insulating sheet material extending across the outer end ot said insulating shell and secured thereto and carried thereby, a contact member secured to said disk, a center contact carried 'by said support, a fuse locater in said insulating shell and electricaliy connected with both of said contacts, an insulating disk extending across said threaded shell contact and secured thereto, and quick detachable fastening members carried by said disks for securing said support in place in said cylindrical threaded shell cont-act.

2l. A fuse plug, comprising a cylindrical tlireaded shell contact, a support for a center contact and fuse, comprising a cylindrical shell ot insulating sheet material located in said threaded shell contact, a disk oi insulating sheet material extending across the outer end of said insulating shell and secured thereto and carried thereby,.a contact member secured to said disk, a center contact carried by said support, a fuse located in said insulating shell and electrically connected with. both of said contacts, an insulating disk extending across said threaded shell contact and secured thereto, and quick detachable :fastening members carried by said disks for securing said support in place in said cylindrical threaded shell contact, said quick detachable connections comprising a ball and socket connection.

In witness whereof, l have hereunto subscribed my name. Y

neuneu n. BENJAMIN. 

